Aida at the Cape
 

One of the nights before leaving the Cape, I had dinner with Ivan and Donna . This is the third time I have visited Ivan’s summer home at the Cape. Let me say he is a very lucky man ! The dinner was at one of the restaurants in his community on the beach where we sat down first for a cocktail while we watched the sun set. Then we had a fantastic meal, great conversation and I had a really fun time. Although I only see Ivan and Donna about once a year when I am with them it feels like I am with old friends. After dinner we went back to Ivan’s home to listen to the newest listening room all set up with gorgeous chrome finish Burmester electronics, top of the line chrome Avid turntable and last but not least the spectacular Sonus Faber Aida speakers all connected with wire world platinum cables. I have heard the hype and read the reviews and seen the pictures of these speakers but seeing and hearing them in person knocked my sox off. The sound that these speakers puts out is unbelievable ! I kept looking around to see if Ivan had subwoofers in the walls because the bass was like going to a concert . After looking around I did not see any subwoofers present, that is something he will no doubt have in the walls the next time I visit :D My wife who is not exactly a audiophile was impressed especially when Ivan played a Madona song she said….” I feel like she is in the room” . For those of you who have not been to Ivan’s home, his basement is very large and yet the sound coming from the speakers fed by the 3 Burmester stereo amps filled and pressurized the room as if it was a small room. The mids and high’s were spectacular as well. Imaging had a surprisingly wide sweet spot and as always with sonus faber was brilliant having been set up by our Metafacts, Bill :D . The stereo that Ivan has set up in the room with the built in of all his Mcintosh equipment, let me call it the “ Mcintosh room “ is fanatastic, when I heard it in the past. This room is much more intimate with eye candy everywhere from the Strads to the wall of Mcintosh to the comfortable furniture to the rack with his beautiful turntable. The Aida room is however in another league as hard as that is to believe and that can cause a audiophile some emotional problems as it took me a few days after I went home to want to go to my own listening room . Seriously there is nowhere to go from here and Ivan know’s it will be really hard to top what he has already. From the home Theater room to the Mcintosh room to the Aida room , trying to figure out what to listen to is kind of like going to ones garage and seeing a Ferrari, Porsche and a Lamborghini and trying to decide what to drive, decisions decisions, oh he has that problem too :D

I forgot to mention the Sonus Faber Futura's . After listening to Aida Ivan played the Futura's as well. These speakers look much better in person than the pictures portray. The wood finish and the polished metal trim on the top bottom and rear of the speakers is up to the standards one expects from this company. I loved the way these speakers sounded and that did cause the gears to start spinning with the devil on my shoulder saying well these you can probably swing and you can always put your Elipsa's in the home theater to replace your maggies etc etc ...

Having seen and heard the Aidas' at the Florida launch, they are the most beautiful speaker I've even seen, period.

Like two audio soldiers standing in attention, the brims of their hats slanted forward over there eyes waiting for their musical assignment for the day.

Can only imagine what sound they produce after receiving their orders by First Sergeant Burmester.:music:

Good report David & very kind of the Messers'.:yes:

Bob

Based on what I have been able to read concerning Sonus Faber loudspeakers, they may be the most technologically advanced of all speakers on the market today. I especially admire their tweeters. Their cabinets are equally impressive. But every single aspect of their speakers seems to be special.

The Futuras are incredible and add a G1.....:drool:. :D You will not be disappointed! :smoking:

Thanks David... we always have fun when you two visit! :wine:

Even more beautiful than your Stradivaris, Bob?

David, my friend, I have only 5 words for you :

YOU ARE A LUCKY GUY.

But Ivan is even more lucky than you.....:D

Thanks for sharing !

---------:goodpost:

* "Lucky"; but did he work real hard in his life to get where he is?

And besides, perhaps you, are the lucky one to get to know him. :)

I expect nothing less from Ivan's system!

Too Kind! :homer:

:)

Very nice update David. Sounds like a terrific evening with great friends, fantastic food and fabulous music via SOTA audio equipment.

Mike

Charles, I think what makes these speakers so special is the rear firing drivers and all of the adjustments you can make. As you say they are technologically special.

JIm

Having finally been able to spend some time with Paolo and get some more details on what he has done, I think there is much more than that. :yes:

Sounds like Ivan's home at the Cape needs to be put on the national register of landmarks. Some people travel to see the sites, I'd rather travel to hear his!

I prefer to use the word fortunate.

That is one of the nice things about them Bill, you can turn off the rear firing drivers and hear the soundstage collapse. I am not saying there is not a lot more to the design, for me this is what makes them special compared to a few other high end competitors.

Jim

There are not many places in the country you have the opportunity to hear a system like this...... WOW! Congrats Ivan!

Sure but that's just the tip of the iceberg. And understanding how that control can interact with the other two takes performance to a whole other level. :yes:

Thanks Bryan, perhaps we'll get to meet and make that a reality. :o

Josh... I appreciate that, thanks!

Bob,
Even the best and the hardest workers in this world are nothing without "luck".
Now what you put behind this word can have multiple meanings.
Of course Ivan worked and works hard.
It does not make him an "unlucky" guy ! :D

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

Who cares where Lincoln slept we you know someone like Ivan, and I grew up in Illinois. Ivan, do you and Donna have a guest registry?

You mean one of these?

http://factorydirectcraft.com/pimage...k_with_pen.jpg

:D

Why, of course you do.

Any changes made to the Aida set up?

So you have the Lambo now?:banana::banana::banana::banana:

There are so many changes to the Burmester/Aida System, since you were last here.

It will be a 2020 model, ETA late November.

I can't wait to see it and hopefully visit you sometime soon!